64 



Bird - Lore 



as sign a total abstinence pledge or 

 encourage their children so to do. As in 

 this, so it is in Audubon matters, and 

 the only way to do permanent good is, on 

 one side, to educate the moral nature so 

 that it will not desire to do the wrong 

 act, and on the other to work for the 

 establishment and enforcement of laws 

 that shall punish those who do the wrong. 



I emphasize enforcement : as to legis- 

 late for laws that manifestly cannot be 

 enforced is about as senseless a task as 

 the traditional one of sweeping the wind 

 off the roof. 



The only case in which the signing of 

 a card, other than one containing name 

 and address and general interest of the 

 would-be member in the motives and 

 work of the society, seems desirable, is 

 that of the Associate Junior members, and 

 the reason for this comes more properly 

 under the head of fees. 



Two out of half a dozen reasons are 

 sufficient to back the assertion that it is 

 better to have fees — of a variet}' of 

 grades to suit varied purses. Both reasons 

 are intensely practical. i. Money is ab- 

 solutely necessary if the Audubon Societies 

 are to do anything more than preach. 

 2. People feel a more keen personal 

 interest in an object to which they have 

 contributed something, no matter how 

 small. 



The oft repeated plea comes in at this 

 juncture, "Is it logical to ask people, 

 especially children, to pay for giving up 

 something?" Yes, perfectly logical, if 

 they regard the matter in the true mis- 

 sionary spirit, which, together with the 

 idea of economic value of birds, is the 

 real hold that Audubon work has upon 

 the public. 



"But people may desire to join, and 

 lack even the money for a small fee," is 

 the next objection. Any adult can give 

 a small fee. Children, of course, in many 

 cases, may not have more than a semi- 

 occasional "candy penny" of which the 

 sternest Audubonite would refuse to rob 

 them, for a childhood deprived of its 



striped peppermint stick can only result 

 in crabbed old age. The graded fee 

 system, ranging from $25 to nothing, has a 

 niche for this penniless class. 



The fee system under which the Con- 

 necticut Society has run successfully for 

 the two years of its life is as follows : 



Patrons — Those members who pay 



$25 at one time. 

 Sustaining Members — Those who pay 



J55 annually. 

 Members — Those who pay |i once for 



all and no annual dues. 

 Teachers — Those who pay 25 cts. once 



for all and no annual dues. 

 Juniors — Those who pay 10 cts. once 



for all and no annual dues. 



These five classes receive equally the 

 certificate of membership, which is print- 

 ed on India paper and is suitable for 

 framing, and the Juniors in addition, now 

 have the Audubon button. A sixth class 

 has been recently added, copied from a 

 similar grade of the New York Society, 

 Associate Junior Members, who sign a 

 card, "I promise not to harm our birds 

 or their eggs and to protect our birds 

 whenever I am able " No fee is re- 

 quired, and in lieu of the certificate, an 

 Audubon button is given as a reminder 

 of the work. 



This sixth grade has not been current 

 long enough to judge fairly of the results, 

 but several cases have come to my notice 

 of "We would rather pay and get the 

 certificate, please." 



The money so raised, given cheerfully 

 and without pressure, has enabled the 

 Connecticut Society to issue satisfactory 

 Bird Day Programmes (last year to 4,500 

 teachers), equip three expensive free lec- 

 ture outfits with lanterns, colored slides, 

 etc., and pay all current expenses it't't/t- 

 out begs-ing-. 



If all societies can collect sufficient 

 money by graded fees to furnish them- 

 selves with a regular campaigning plant 

 and wage the pleasant and profitable bat- 

 tle of instruction in each Audubon State, 

 in ten years either their work will be so 

 well done that there will be no further 



